Salkantay Trek

Cusco, Imperial City Adventures to Machu Picchu â€¦ Beautiful landscapes, amazing geography and rich historical past â€¦ Also, the city of Cusco is the most important tourist destination in Peru and one of the most famous in South America. Known by the Incas as â€śthe home of the godsâ€ť, Cusco was the capital of the one of the greatest Pre-Hispanic empires: the Tahuantinsuyo.

It`s Quechua name, Qosqo, means â€śthe navel of the worldâ€ť, because Cusco was the starting point of a vast path network system joining a large portion of South Amaerica, from Southern Colombia to Northern Argentina. Cusco is a colonial city with a racial diversity, splendid temples and big houses built on finely carved rock foundations. Cusco also houses one of the most notable painting schools in this part of the continent, the Cusquenian School Painting. Beautiful landscapes, amazing geography and rich historical past, makes Cusco a City that every traveler yearns to visit. ATM tours.

The snow peak Salkantay, with 6,372 meters of height is considered a sacred mountain since Inca times. The paths surrounding it are of Inca manufacturing, and form part of its marvelous view, allowing as well observing its impressive snow peaks and glaciers. The trek starts at a nice village called Mollepata, and as long as we ascend we will see the snow peaks showing up along the valley. Te first will be the Humantay, and then the impressive Salkantay. The trek ends across the mountains at a tropical valley of the river Vilcanota, close from Machupicchu.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: CUSCO - MOLLEPATA - SORAYPAMPA

Early in the morning we pick you up from your hotel and transfer you in a bus to Mollepata passing picturesque and traditional towns like Iscuchaca , Ancahuasi and Limatambo, as well highlands plateaus and landscapes with great views of snowcapped mountains that belong to the cordillera Vilcabamba. The bus trip will last 3.00 hours and then the hike is for 6 hours. The trail climbs up from Mollepata sharply to Marqhok'asa pass through the pastures, farming lands, afterwards descending until the campsite through the high brush down to Soraypampa (3750 masl).

DAY 2: SORAYPAMPA - COLLPAPAMPA

Early in the morning you leave Soraypampa and keep going up the beautiful valley walking just below the majestic snowcapped mountain named Salkantay (6271 masl) after 1:1/2 hours the trek becomes steep zigzagging for a while after that we get the pass named Salkantay pass, 4600 masl from where you will be rewarded with superb views . The trail descends through an old moraine passing great pastures down to the camp of Huayroqmachay located at 4000masl. This campsite is subject to change according to the guide's criteria and the evolution of the group.

DAY 3: COLLPAPAMPA - LUCMABAMBA

Wake up with lovely mountain scenery and a good morning tea. Continue to the north down to the lush jungle through different ecosystems watching birdlife like hummingbirds, trashes, finches, tanagers, sparrows, guans, parrots, etc It will be a long descending day towards the cloud forest where people live taking advantages of nature, also you will pass great waterfalls. At the end of the day we will see passion fruit fields. The hike will last approximately 9 hours; the campsite is at the community named "La Playa " (2400 masl).

Leaving la playa the trek continues through plantations of coffee, banana, and tropical fruits. Afterwards the trail climbs up to Patallacta from where you descend until Hidroelectrica ( 1800 masl) and continue to Aguas Calientes where we will set up camp just below Machu Picchu Inca sanctuary , this afternoon you can go to have a bath in the natural hot springs a great place to relax after this challenging trek.

DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO

Our last day we wake up very early to visit the Inca fortress of Machu Picchu. We enjoy the magic view over Machu Picchu as the sun is rising, about 6:30 am. We will have a guided tour during 2 hours, then you have spare time to walk around. For example you can ascent to Huayna Picchu, that is the high mountain close to Machu Picchu, where you can have an amazing view of the complex. About 2:30 pm, we get back to Aguas Calientes, to have some meals (by passenger own) and then we take the train back to Olantaytambo and bus to Cusco.